By Shawn Raymundo
Campaign mailers the Republican Party of Orange County recently sent out supporting Gene James’s run for San Clemente City Council have raised some eyebrows, as the materials falsely state he was a recipient of the Legion of Merit award.
James, a veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years from 1972 to 1992, said he did not give the OCGOP permission to send out those mailers that incorrectly claim he received the medal—an honor reserved for members of the Armed Forces who display “exceptionally meritorious conduct” and “outstanding service.”
“That is not my mailer,” James wrote in an Oct. 28 email chain started by former San Clemente Mayor Bob Baker. “I have already been in contact with the OCGOP on this very matter. At no time did I ever give them or anyone permission to publish that information. I made no such claim in any mailer, nor would I have ever allowed such a mailer to go out.”
James later states that he is “not such a fool as to believe that I could get away with such a lie. As it turns out, they never cleared the mailer with me. I would have never allowed the mailer to be approved.”
As of the posting of this story, the OCGOP had not responded to San Clemente Times’ request for comment.
Baker later responded to James’ statement, questioning why it took the candidate a week to issue a statement on the falsehood of the mailers.
“I find it very curious that you chose to do nothing about it until this morning, when I questioned the accuracy of the claim that you were a recipient of the Legion of Merit,” Baker wrote on Monday, Oct. 28. “I would have thought you, being a career military man, would have been completely aghast that someone had made this false claim and seen it immediately as ‘Stolen Valor.’ ”
Speaking by phone with San Clemente Times, James said that while he’s unsure exactly when the mailers were delivered to homes, he disputes Baker’s assertion that it came out a week ago.
In one of the mailers, a Legion of Merit award is pictured front and center with the text reading: “GENE JAMES SERVED AMERICA FOR 20-YEARS. NOW HE WANTS TO SERVE SAN CLEMENTE.”
At the bottom of it, the text states: “GENE JAMES LEGION OF MERIT For Distinguished Military Service U.S. Army, ret.”
A second advertisement notes the local Republican Party’s endorsement of James that included a statement from OCGOP Chairman Fred M. Whitaker.
“Your Orange County Republican Party has endorsed Gene James for San Clemente City Council. Gene is a 20-year highly decorated U.S. Army Veteran and Legion of Merit recipient for distinguished service. He’ll do a great job restoring San Clemente’s finances.”
James, who wrote in the email that he’s “embarrassed beyond words,” added that he’s aware of being recommended for the Meritorious Service Medal, as well as the Legion of Merit, but he retired from the military without knowing for certain whether he received it.
“I actually retired not knowing if I received a MSM or LOM, nor did either award ever follow me,” he wrote. “I remember it was an award requiring SECARMY approval, so there would have been significant lag time. What I can say is I was recommended for the LOM by a colonel and a three-star general.”
Asked what the OCGOP’s response was during the conversation over the mailer, James said the party told him, “We should have cleared it with you.” James also said the party didn’t explain to him the source of the incorrect information.
The issue, he added, will certainly have an impact on his relationship with the local party, as it was authorized only to promote his 20 years of military service and nothing more.
“I’m proud of my service, but I look at those who served before me and what they had to put up with—I’m talking about Vietnam—those who have been deployed and at war, and my service doesn’t match the service that came before and after me, and that’s why I’m very reluctant to say anything about my service,” he said.
Shawn Raymundo
Shawn Raymundo is the city editor for the San Clemente Times. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies. Before joining Picket Fence Media, he worked as the government accountability reporter for the Pacific Daily News in the U.S. territory of Guam. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnzyTsunami and follow San Clemente Times @SCTimesNews.
In reading Gene’s quoted responses in this article along with his social media posts on the topic, he clearly understands, respects and honors the military’s awards and wouldn’t be involved in any effort to mischaracterize his service or subsequent recognitions.
I’ll just post the response I sent to Gene after I got his “it wasn’t me mommy” excuse.
Gene, this mailer was received by the voters of San Clemente last Friday. I’m sure you and your team got one too. I find it very curious that you chose to do nothing about it until this morning (Monday) when I questioned the accuracy of the claim that you were a recipient of the Legion of Merit.
I would have thought you, being a career military man, would have been completely aghast that someone had made this false claim and seen it immediately as “Stolen Valor”. You could have put out a press release, sent an email blast, put a disclaimer on your website; ANYTHING! You chose to do NOTHING! Not until you realized that this was going to blow up in your face and follow you for the rest of your life.
Now you blame this on others?
What style of leadership is that?
You certainly didn’t learn that in the United States Army.
Bob Baker
I have to say that news like this about Mr. James does not surprise me at all.
I expect we will here more.
Character matters!
So, Gene James either knew that his fake military decorations were going out in a GOP mailer or he did not. Either way he should have known. Either way, his shocking response is to wait a week, let the false mailers work for the absentee vote and then come forward blaming EVERYone but himself. I am disgusted but this ethos or shoddy campaign organization.
So Hinkle wore a firefighters turnout coat while he was supposed to at an official event. And then when told he couldn’t publish the pic he–
1. Took full responsibility
2. Removed the pic right away.
This is not a close call– This incident reveals much about Gene James.
The mailers were completed as an independent expenditure by the OCGOP PAC, which means the candidate could not have been involved with the effort….the error was on them, not him.
If Gene has been interested in using any military awards or honors he had months to do so in his own campaign literature!!
Everything he has said about the military conveys that he has the utmost respect for the institution, it’s current and former service members, and its military distinctions.